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Galleria melonella L.
Communication Nr. 24
Class:
Insects
Insecta
Order:
Butterflies
Lepidoptera
Family:
Pyralids
Pyralidae
Species:
Galleria mellonella L.
Achroia grisella
Vitula edmansae
Esphestia kuehniella
Of all moths, the Greater Wax Moth causes the greatest damage in apiaries which lead to
material and financial losses every year. For this reason, we propose to study only the
biology of the Greater Wax Moth more closely.
The methods employed in combating Galleria mellonella are generally effective against
other moths identified as pests of bee products.
Pathology
Adult Wax Moths cause no damage because their mouthparts are atrophied. They do not feed
during their adult life. Only larvae feed and destroy combs. However, adult Wax Moths and larvae
can transfer pathogens of serious bee diseases (e.g. foulbrood). In colonies infested with
foulbrood, the faeces of Wax Moths contain large amounts of Paenibacillus larvae spores [2].
Development stages
Galleria development goes through 3 consecutive stages: egg, larva and pupa. This sequence is
only interrupted if the temperature is too low or when there is no food. Therefore, the cycle can last
between 6 weeks and 6 months depending on temperature and food. According to the literature,
over-wintering can take place as egg larva or pupa.
The egg.
Normally, females lay their eggs by means of their ovipositor into crevasses and gaps. This puts
them out of reach of the bees and prevents their destruction.
The larva.
After hatching, the young larva immediately searches for a comb in order to feed and to build the
silk-lined feeding tunnels. Speed of growth is directly dependent on temperature and food supply.
Under ideal conditions the larval weight can double daily during the first 10 days [4].
The metabolic warmth, which is created by this rapid growth, can increase the temperature in the
spun silk nests far beyond the environmental temperature. The larva feed in particular on
impurities occurring in wax, such as faeces and the cocoon of bee larvae as well as pollen. The
larva eats also wax. Larvae, which have been reared exclusively on pure wax (foundation, fresh
comb), do not complete their development [4; 13]. Dark, old combs that contained many broods
are most at risk.
At the end of the larval stage, the larva spins a very resistant silk cocoon on a firm support, such
as wooden frames, hive walls or in the comb storage chest. Frequently the larva spins its cocoon
in a hollow it had bored into the wood.
The pupa.
In the cocoon, the larva changes into a pupa and then into the adult moth. These metamorphoses
last from one to 9 weeks.
- wing-span 14-38mm
About 6 weeks
in cocoon
immobile phase
olive shaped. mm
white reddish
Temp. C
24-27
58
10-16
>35
>9
Development stopped
Allow only strong colonies in an apiary. (The bee itself is the most dangerous enemy of the
Wax Moth).
After mass invasion of Wax Moths, destroy their eggs on combs, frames and hives (e.g.
sulphur vapour).
Technical methods
Physical methods
Biological methods
-
The bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis was discovered in 1911 and has been successfully used for
plant protection for several years. The bacterial strain of the product B-401 was selected in
particular for its activity against the Wax Moth. The bacterium produces spores containing a toxin.
When the larvae ingest the spores, the toxin is freed and damages the intestinal walls. This results
in the death of the larvae. Adult Wax Moths do not feed and are therefore not endangered by this
product.
The bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis was is harmless for vertebrates (man, livestock) and bees and
leaves no residues in wax or honey.
Chemical methods.
-
Burning of sulphur strips or spraying of SO2 from a pressurized vessel are the two main control
methods using sulphur. This is still one of the most effective means against Wax Moths. It is highly
volatile, not fat-soluble and therefore poses only a slight danger to bees, wax, and honey.
After removing comb from the colonies, it is advisable to wait one or two weeks before treatment
(SO2 is ineffective against eggs). For more safety, the treatment can be repeated after 2 weeks.
Acetic acid
Acetic acid vapour instantly kills eggs and moths. The larva, especially in the cocoon, is more
resistant and must be exposed to the vapours for longer [3]. For this reason, the combs must be
treated immediately after removal from the colonies, before eggs can develop into larvae.
Formic acid
Professional beekeepers successfully use formic acid against Wax Moths. The effects are
comparable to that of acetic acid.
Paradichlorbenzole (PDCB)
Procedure / Remarks
+ no residues
-
Sorting comb
- supplementary measure
separate dangerous old comb from foundation
and new comb
- supplementary measure
Physical
+ simple
+ no residue
- cool storage (<15C)
+ effective
- infrastructure, long term method
- frost treatment
+ effective
+ kills all stages
- expensive infrastructure
- 2 hours at 15C or
3 hours at 12C or
4.5 hours at 7C [5]
- strict period of frost
- heat treatment
Biological
spores of Bacillus
thuringiensis (B-401)
+ effective
+ kills all stages
infrastructure (warm air blower)
- risk of wax melting
- 80 minutes at 46C or
40 minutes at 49C
+ no residues
- observe instructions
Chemical
Method
- Sulphur
+ effective
+ good pollen conservation against moulds
- regular repeats
- ineffective against eggs
- fire danger
Procedure / Remarks
- treatment from above (SO2 heavier than air)
- do not breathe in vapours (respiratory and eye irritant)
- burn in a small sulphur stove
- treat every four weeks (in summer)
- 1 strip per 100 litres (about 3 DB supers)
- SO2 in spray can
- 1 second (=2.5g SO2) per honey super or
- 3-4 seconds per 100 litres hive volume
- no fire danger
- Acetic acid
+ effective
+ no problem residues
+ kills all stages
+ kills Nosema spores [10]
- attacks metal parts
- regular repeats
- caution when handling
- Formic acid
+ effective
+ no problem residues
+ kills all stages
- attacks metal parts
- regular repeats
- caution when handling
1998
2000
2001
2002
2003
Number of samples
28
13
23
16
93
315
32
129
% positive samples
14
46
26
31
34
41
11
15
12
18
24
35
112
56
37
112
300
After 1 Month
27.3g
paradichlorbenzole
2.5 Months
38.5g
83.5g
9 Months
Wax takes up PDCB like a sponge. The more PDCB crystals are added
to combs and the longer PDCB acts on the combs, the higher the
substance stored in the wax.
10
11
honey later.
Residues of PDCB in honey higher then 0.01 mg/kg are not permitted in
Switzerland. Honeys with such residues are rejected by the Cantonal chemists.
12
13
Bibliography:
[1] Janne F., 1982, Principaux papillons parasites de la cire et moyens de lutte. Bul. tech.
apic.,9(2), 85 - 92 [Principal moth parasites in wax and means of control.]
[2] Borchert A., 1966, Die Krankheiten und Schdlinge der Honigbiene. Hirzel Verlag Leipzig
[Diseases and pests of the honey bee]
[3] Moosbeckhofer R., 1993, Wachsmotten - eine Gefahr fr den Wabenvorrat. Bienenvater, 6, 261
- 270 [Wax moths a danger for stored wax comb.]
[4] Morse R.A., 1978, Honey bee pests, predators and diseases. Cornell University Press
[5] Shimanuki H., 1981, Controlling the greater wax moth. USDA publication
[6] Ritter W., Perschil F., Vogel R., 1992, Vergleich der Wirkung verschiedener Methoden zur
Bekmpfung von Wachsmotten. ADIZ (1), 11 - 13 [Comparison of the effect of various
methods for combatting wax moths.]
[7] Mautz D., 1990, >>Giftiger Honig<<, lmkerfreund (11), 12 - 14 [Poisonous honey]
[8] Wallner K., 1991, Das Verhalten von Paradichlorbenzol in Wachs und Honig ADIZ (9), 29 - 31
[ [9] Sprgin A., 1991, Wachsmottenbekmpfung. ADIZ (9), 25 - 26 [Controlling wax
moth.]
[10] Jordan R., 1957, Essigsure zur Bekmpfung der Wachsmotte und vor allem aber zum
Entkeimen nosemainfizierter Waben. Bienenvater, 78 (6), 163 - 169 [Acetic acid for
controlling wax moth and in particular for disinfecting nosema-infected combs.]
[11] Gerig L., 1985, Der Schweizerische Bienenvater, Veriag Sauerlnder, 16. Aufl.
[12] Krasnik M., personal communication
[13] Altermatt F., 1996, Die grosse Wachsmotte, eine berlebensspezialistin?, Selbstndige
Arbeit, Gymnasium Laufental [The greater wax moth, a survival specialist? Independent
work, Laufental Teacher School.]
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Table of content
Moths regarded as pests of bee products:.......................................................................................2
Biology of the Greater Wax Moth..................................................................................................... 3
Geographical distribution............................................................................................................ 3
Pathology ................................................................................................................................... 3
Development stages................................................................................................................... 3
The egg................................................................................................................................. 4
The larva. .............................................................................................................................. 4
The pupa............................................................................................................................... 4
The adult Insect (imago). ......................................................................................................4
Possibilities for controlling Wax Moth .............................................................................................. 6
In beehives. ................................................................................................................................ 6
In comb storage chests: (see tables pages 6 and 7).................................................................. 6
Technical methods................................................................................................................ 6
Physical methods.................................................................................................................. 6
Biological methods................................................................................................................ 6
Bacillus thuringiensis spores ........................................................................................... 6
Chemical methods. ............................................................................................................... 7
Sulphur (sulphur dioxide, SO2)........................................................................................ 7
Acetic acid ....................................................................................................................... 7
Formic acid...................................................................................................................... 7
Substance witch has no more to be used ............................................................................. 7
Paradichlorbenzole (PDCB) ............................................................................................ 7
Contamination of wax and honey by paradichlorbenzole (PDCB) ................................................. 10
PDCB residues in Swiss honeys .............................................................................................. 10
Para-dichlorbenzene accumulation in wax............................................................................... 10
Evaporation of PDCB from beeswax. ....................................................................................... 12
Airing................................................................................................................................... 12
Melting old wax. .................................................................................................................. 12
Stability of PDCB in honey. ...................................................................................................... 12
Bibliography: .................................................................................................................................. 14
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